The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-28
WILL SHAKEsPEARE'S LADS.

1t is strange that while we are made
acquainted with the smallest facts in the
lives of some great men by means of nu-
merous biographies, we know almost
nothing of the life of the greatest poet
and dramatist OF modern times. During
his life no one valued him sufficiently to
prepare biography Of him, and SO it is
that to-day all the research and curiosity
in the world only enable us to find out
very few of those minor incidents in his
career which would have been such de-
lightful reading.
Every now and then, however, some
student of archaeology, as they call the
people who love to look among old libra
ries and pull over musty manu- scripts
finds some allusion to the famous play
wright, and we have one more anec-
dote to add to our stock. Some days
ago friend lent me a small story book
by an English author, whose name was
quite unknown, and who, l fancy, has
not many readers on this side the Allan
tic. But he was clearly learned and
conscientious author, and among his
pages, found the following anecdote re.
ferring to Shakespeare. 1t was quite
new to me- and fancy will be to most of
you; but feel quite sure that it is true
or the writer in question would never
have allowed it to appear in his volume.
Among the other things that our little
barefoot Will Shakespeare did ir order
to pick up few pennies in the little pow
erty-stricken town of Stratford was to
wait about the inn in order to hold the
horses Of the gentlemen and farmers who
rode into the village on business. In
those days, you know, every one rode
horseback. There were no wagons and
carriages in use, and no roads over which
it would have been possible to drive
them had there been. Every one who
could afford it kept riding horse, and,
indeed, without one it would have been
impossible for people to go beyond walk
ing distance. This, of course, made
great many horses to be held on market
days OF on any occasion that brought
number of people into town. Now little
Will Shakespeare, who was in manhood
to manage and direct theater, had the
same head for organization and manage
ment in his boyhood. He soon organic
ed number of his friends and school
mates under him into an association whose
business it was always to have certain
number of its members on hand at the
inn and other prominent places on market
days, and there to stand ready to take a
horses bride from the rider, see that the
animal was taken to the stable and
cared for if necessary, or only to hold
him quietly until his owner reappeared.
These boys came to be known in STRAIT
ford as "Will Shakespeare's Lads"
Now to show you what stuff was in our
little Will. Not only did he put this
scheme in motion, but he SO trained and
drilled the lads under him in punctuality
and good behavior, respectful bearing
and honesty that the reputation of them
went abroad as being the most reliable
and trustworthy boys in Stratford. When
rider would appear in the village, and a
boy came forward to hold the horse, the
common inquiry was: "Are you one OF
Will Shakespeare's lads2 don't want
any other"
Only to one Of these boys trained and
instructed by little Will would the peo-
pie round about intrust their valuable
horses. Was not that a reputation to
win boys, and can you not see in it a